Rockwell Kent, John Paulding the Subjects of Winning Essays by SHHS Sophomores

The has been sponsoring their Hall of Fame Essay Contest, in which sophomores at Sleepy Hollow High School research and write an essay nominating an individual who has contributed to the villages of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown, since 2003.

The Historical Society, in partnership with the Villages of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, the , the , and , select a winning essay written by a student from each village. Along with a $250 cash prize for each winner, the winning essays are framed and mounted in the Warner Library for visitors to read.

This year, Sleepy Hollow sophomores Lily Sands and Claire Royston were honored for their essays at a ceremony held on Wednesday, May 23 at the Warner Library. Sleepy Hollow mayor, Ken Wray, and Tarrytown mayor, Drew Fixell, along with other local community officials and representatives from Sleepy Hollow High School, the Historical Society, and the Warner Library were on hand to honor the two students.

Lily Sands’ essay on artist Rockwell Kent and Claire Royston’s essay on John Paulding will hang alongside previous winning essays written by Sleepy Hollow High School sophomores on the second floor of the Warner Library.

Rockwell Kent, artist, illustrator, muralist, prolific writer, was born in Tarrytown in 1882. He spent many years in and around NYC and then moved in his mid-40s to an Adirondack farmstead where he lived out his days painting. Learn more here (or go read Sands' essay!). 

John Paulding, who of course we are familiar with by way of our early childhood school of the same name, didn't live here but has certainly left his indelible mark in our park. The statue in Patriot's Park of the "minuteman" may have been made in his likeness. His grave in Cortlandt Manor tells the historic tale: 

FIDELTY: On the morning of the 23rd of September 1780, accompanied by two young farmers of the county of West Chester, he intercepted the British spy, André. Poor himself, he disdained to acquire wealth by the sacrifice of his country. Rejecting the temptation of great rewards, he conveyed his prisoner to the American camp and, by this noble act of self-denial, the treason of Arnold was detected; the designs of the enemy baffled; West Point and the American Army saved; and these United States, now by the grace of God Free and Independent, rescued from most imminent peril.